Category Archives: James Packer

Men of La Mancha; Delaware: Taxation without benefit

Posted on July 23, 2013 by David McKee

While the attempted boycott of his Venelazzo poker rooms fizzles, Sheldon Adelson continues to look overseas. However, his EuroVegas will be beaten to the punch, or so it appears. Rival project BCN World has the jump on him, at least … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Delaware, Dining, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown Entertainment, New York, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | 3 Comments

Accord in Kentucky; Atlantic City on the move; James Packer’s comeback

Posted on July 5, 2013 by David McKee

But there are still some stirrings of activity on the casino front. For starters, Bwin.Party has agreed to fork over $15 million to Kentucky. According to the company the payment “resolves the only remaining litigation … that stems from our … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Current, Entertainment, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Accord in Kentucky; Atlantic City on the move; James Packer’s comeback

Cap-and-trade at Sands; SkyFail: The sequel

Posted on January 28, 2013 by David McKee

Ever since the government of Macao put a hard cap on the number of table games in the enclave, casino operators have been forced to do a certain amount of cap-and-trade. In order to stock up Sands Cotai, 200 tables … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Shadow-puppetry at the Sahara; TropiHilton of LV; Melco goes southerly

Posted on October 26, 2012 by David McKee

“Lightweight” might be a apt term to describe the braintrust forming around the SLS/Sahara project. So would “miscast.” Reporting to casino novice and owner Sam Nazarian, its president will be J.P. Morgan investment banker Sam Bakhshandehpour. His main qualification for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Shadow-puppetry at the Sahara; TropiHilton of LV; Melco goes southerly

He shoots, he scores!; Zynga zinged; Hill puts leg before wicket

Posted on October 24, 2012 by David McKee

Monday’s interview with Interblock global sales supremo Tom O’Brien (right) yielded some passing observations that are probably too peripheral for my upcoming Casino Life piece … but perfect for S&G. Interblock maintains field offices in Las Vegas (soon to become … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Current, Election, Genting, IGT, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Macau, Regulation, Singapore, Technology, TV | Comments Off on He shoots, he scores!; Zynga zinged; Hill puts leg before wicket

Sauce for the goose; Wall Street hearts LVS, MGM & Melco

Posted on April 23, 2012 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson must have great and abiding faith in the American legal system … at least some of the time. He’s counting on it to cover his butt over in Macao, where erstwhile partners Asian American Entertainment have filed suit … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, International, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Blast from the Past

Posted on December 7, 2011 by David McKee

This week finds me up to my butt in page proofs of Rick Lax‘s forthcoming book, I Get Paid for This, a Michael Jackson The [sic] Immortal World Tour™ review for WizardOfVegas.com, profiles of developer Brett Torino and Mayor Carolyn … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Cirque du Soleil, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, history, James Packer, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, Movies, Tamares Group, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 4, 2011 by David McKee

“Ferries don’t come to Macao during a typhoon but they don’t leave either.” — Deutsche Bank gaming analyst Carlo Santarelli, endeavoring to calm investor fears of “a broader slowdown in China” — anxieties that have driven MGM Resorts International, Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

G2E 2011: No big deal?

Posted on September 27, 2011 by David McKee

I’ve been debating whether or not to give Global Gaming Expo a pass this year and this morning’s dispatch from Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli didn’t exactly quicken my pulse. His prediction? A “quiet” G2E, due to slow growth in the … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, G2E, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on G2E 2011: No big deal?

How to get things done in Macao? Bribery!

Posted on September 12, 2011 by David McKee

OK, so it’s called “paying a premium,” but Steve Wynn finally pried 51 acres of Cotai Strip™ landfill real estate loose from Macao by forking over $193 million ($3.8 million an acre), plus annual lease payments. In return. he’s got … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Florida, Genting, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on How to get things done in Macao? Bribery!

Who says irony is dead?

Posted on September 9, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas Review-Journal newshound Norm(!) Clarke reports that, in January, the Nevada Ballet Theater‘s annual honoree will be … wait for it … Eva Longoria. What a concept: Fail miserably at business, get an award! S&G looks forward to future … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Fontainebleau, James Packer, Lyle Berman, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Sports | Comments Off on Who says irony is dead?

Lost: Steve Wynn’s marbles

Posted on July 21, 2011 by David McKee

Oh Christ, Steve Wynn, grow up already. Busy Wall Street analysts were held hostage to a 433-word talk-radio tirade while they were probably itching to write up quarterly earnings reports. When other CEOs might have been bragging on an “amazing … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Economy, Florida, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tourism | 5 Comments

Illinois: Optimism or suicide?

Posted on June 24, 2011 by David McKee

It doesn’t matter to state Rep. Lou Lang (D, right) that Illinois‘ casino revenues are puny compared to those of neighboring Indiana or that St. Louis-area players are defecting in droves. He wants racinos and more casinos, by golly, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Texas, Tribal | 2 Comments

Shopping spree: Boyd, Melco, Sands; Trouble in Adelsonia

Posted on June 16, 2011 by David McKee

For those of you waiting for Boyd Gaming to do something with all its undrawn credit, the moment has arrived. Having surveyed the chips on the board, Boyd has pounced upon … IP Casino Resort Spa (née Imperial Palace Biloxi) … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Cretins, Current, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, history, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Shopping spree: Boyd, Melco, Sands; Trouble in Adelsonia

Loveman: Norton, you’re not the greatest; Another seesaw in Macao

Posted on June 3, 2011 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment Chief Marketing Officer David Norton, developer of Total Rewards, got his walking papers yesterday. The old “pursuing other interests” excuse was deployed; familiar industry code for “Don’t let the doorknob hit you on the way out.” Publicly, CEO … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Economy, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Why is this man smiling? (And other Case Bets)

Posted on April 11, 2011 by David McKee

Because Sen. Harry Reid‘s decision not to importune lenders on behalf of Fontainebleau (unlike CityCenter) means he steered clear of a widening circle of litigation and recrimination, that’s why. Among those in the hot seat are hapless James Packer and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Harry Reid, James Packer, Regulation, Sports, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | 6 Comments

Packer packs it in; Lights out at Resorts A.C.

Posted on March 22, 2011 by David McKee

James Packer‘s had enough of the U.S. casino market. While not definitively ruling out a return to the American gaming industry, the minority owner of Cannery Casino Resorts makes it clear that he’s neither the stomach nor the lucre for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Colony Capital, Dennis Gomes, history, James Packer, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

R.I.P., Sahara (1952-2011)

Posted on March 11, 2011 by David McKee

Once the Riviera changed hands, the Strip casino for whom mortality seemed most imminent became the Sahara. The ‘death by a thousand cuts’ regime of nightclub impresario and absentee owner Sam Nazarian bled the place to the extent that there … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, history, International, James Packer, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Pansy Ho, Plaza, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | 10 Comments

HRH: When the Scheetz hit the fan

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David McKee

Thanks to the S&G reader who provided me with that ready-made headline. Yes, Morgans Hotel Group has closed the book on Scheetz’s Folly, the $770 million purchase of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The Sun‘s Liz Benston lays out … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Golden Gaming, International, James Packer, Kansas, Morgans Hotel Group, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Las Vegas Sands: Who’s minding the store?

Posted on February 15, 2011 by David McKee

Investors would do well to ask that, not least because of CEO Sheldon Adelson‘s attitude of, ‘The buck stops here … except when it doesn’t.’ To hear Adelson tell it, everything that goes awry at Las Vegas Sands and Sands … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Genting, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Mob, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Las Vegas Sands: Who’s minding the store?